SoVote

Ms. Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:54:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is great to join the debate in the 44th Parliament. I will be splitting my time with the member for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill. First, I want to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on your election to the chair. We worked closely in the past on the Standing Committee on Health. I know you will do a good job. I also would like to thank the people of Brampton South for once again putting their trust in me for the third time. Representing them is the greatest honour of my life. I commit to them to continue to be their strong voice and represent Brampton's best interests in Ottawa. Behind each 338 members of Parliament is a strong team of volunteers who get us elected. I have an amazing team of volunteers and I could not have done it without their unwavering support. Of course, a big thanks to my family. I know they are already proud of the work we are doing here. They are the real force behind me. I want to thank my son Akash, who is always supporting me, especially on the campaign trail. He is always there by my side. It is an honour to address the House on behalf of residents of Brampton South to speak in support of the throne speech, which introduced our government's vision for the future of our country. I will be speaking about the priorities of the residents in my riding, as these priorities are reflected in this speech. I have spoken to hundreds of residents in my community over the last few months and they are optimistic that we are coming through this pandemic. Businesses in Brampton are bouncing back. They know their government is ready to lead us through this recovery, tackle the challenges ahead of us and to build an economy that works for everyone. The vision outlined in the Speech from the Throne delivered last week is the plan to finish the fight against COVID-19, make home ownership achievable, make life more affordable, confront public safety challenges and take strong climate action, while creating jobs and growing the economy. Vaccination remains the most important tool in fighting COVID-19. This is the only way we can end this pandemic. Almost 90% of those aged 12 and over have received at least one dose, and our government is continuing to encourage uptake. We have mandated vaccines for civil servants and federally regulated workers. As of this Tuesday, all travellers taking planes and trains must be vaccinated. Many of us see this decision as the right step. I heard international experts saying that they wished to had the same system in their country. This will help our economy to reopen, but also protect our health care system and essential workers. Peel Region, especially Brampton, was one of the hardest hit communities in the country at the peak of the pandemic, with over 400 new cases a day at its highest point. We are a community of essential workers. They continued to go to their jobs every day so others could stay home. We are also a very diverse community, with over 100 different languages spoken at home. I want to thank Dr. Lawrence Loh and his team at Peel public health, all the front-line health care workers in Brampton, the testing and vaccine clinics as well as all the multicultural community partners, faith leaders and service organizations that helped in the vaccination efforts. Thanks to their outreach efforts, working through language barriers and complicated work schedules, we are now one of the most vaccinated communities in Canada. We are coming through this global health crisis. Our government will be there to work with the provinces to deliver the changes needed to improve health care. This includes mental health and addiction, long-term care and addressing and delivering vaccine boosters, and vaccine doses for children. For most Canadians, housing is the single biggest portion of their monthly budgets. Whether it is through rent or a mortgage payment on a recently purchased home throughout Brampton and the GTA as well as many parts of Canada. it is a cost that is becoming unaffordable. It is an issue I regularly hear about from my constituents. This is why our government has a plan to address this rising cost. Our government will do this by working with the municipalities to help them increase supply, with the housing accelerator fund, providing more support to first-time buyers and implementing an innovative rent-to-own program that will help Canadians obtain home ownership. All members of the House agree we need to build more housing and build it faster. Our government has a clear record on lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. Thousands of families in Brampton South have benefited from the Canada child benefit introduced by our government over the years. In my riding, child care is also one of the most expensive costs for families with young children. In Brampton, it is not uncommon to find costs as high as $1,500 or even $2,000 a month per child in many cases. We are a community of essential workers, many of whom do not have the option of working from home. This high cost is unaffordable for too many people. One parent, usually the mother, will decide to leave the workforce. This is not because she wants to, but because finding child care is impossible. At the status of women committee during the last Parliament, I frequently heard how important this was and how affordable child care options needed to be expanded. Affordable child care is the priority I have heard at the doors often in my riding. Our government's $10-a-day child care plan will save families in Brampton over $9,200 a year in 2022. That is a future year of tuition payment for the child or a year of groceries. By 2026, Brampton families are going to save almost $16,000. This is a big number. The difference that our government's child care program can make in the life of a young family is significant. Our federal plan will allow many women to remain in the workforce and will increase economic output in Brampton and across Ontario once the new deal is signed. I was also reassured to see that our government is taking action on keeping our communities safe. We have taken action to ban and restrict access to firearms and will continue to work with municipalities and law enforcement on fighting gun violence. However, as many residents know, the leading reason for 911 calls in Peel is for domestic and intimate partner violence. Every hour, Peel police receive two calls on average, mostly from women. Sadly, we see many instances of gender-based violence from coast to coast. Many of them are women of colour, those who are racialized or are indigenous. This is unacceptable. It was important for me to see that our government is taking this issue seriously by continuing to provide funding to shelters and women's centres as well. As with the commitment to address gender-based violence with the 10-year national action plan, this plan will account for women of all colours, abilities, ages and backgrounds. I had the pleasure to speak with the middle school students earlier this year. The single greatest issue they are talking to me about is climate change. Climate change is real and we see the horrible consequences in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Climate change is not up for debate; it is a reality. Our government has a plan that will get us to net-zero emissions by 2050. We will invest in the green technology sector so we can create good, clean jobs for the future. Brampton seniors remember the devastating floods in Brampton in the fifties and sixties. By investing in disaster mitigation projects like the Brampton Riverwalk project in the past, they are committed to working with the municipalities on green and sustainable infrastructure projects. Our government is addressing both the infrastructure needs of our communities and fighting climate change. One of the biggest announcements that I participated in last year was when the City of Brampton received $400 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to fully transition our transit fleet of 450 buses to electric vehicles by 2027. This is a real example of helping cities across the country to be leaders in the climate fight. I am looking forward to continuing this work over the coming years. We need to build a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous nation for future generations. As a mother, this is what I want to leave for my children and future generations. I am asking all members of Parliament to support the values of this speech so that we can work together to build a better Canada.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Ms. Sonia Sidhu

Dec/2/21 6:05:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member on his election. This is an issue I care very much about, and I know that the member shares that passion. If the provinces are in agreement that these areas need to be improved, then they should welcome the strategy. Overwhelmingly, we hear from constituents who want to see national action. We are prepared to work with the provinces and make sure that this happens. It is an important issue, and I look forward to working with members to improve the lives of Canadians.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Ms. Sonia Sidhu

Dec/2/21 6:06:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's passion on this issue. We have worked closely in the past, and I share her passion for seniors. In this pandemic, seniors have been hit very hard, especially in long-term care. Seniors' issues are very close to me and our government. During this pandemic, in my riding, one of the nursing homes had the Canadian Armed Forces step in to support the seniors living there. Since then, our government supported long-term care with improvements in ventilation in my riding along with many other actions across the country. I know that we need to do more. I look forward to working with members and, yes, seniors deserve a better life.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Ms. Sonia Sidhu

Dec/2/21 6:08:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the member opposite that the previous Liberal government was in the process of implementing a child care program, but we needed the remaining provinces and territories, including Ontario, to sign the agreement. This agreement will help young families in Brampton and all across the country to save money and help women enter the workforce. Our government will continue to pursue this until every Canadian family with young children has access to affordable, quality care. The Province of B.C. signed the agreement, and families in B.C. are already benefiting from it, which is great news. I look forward to working with the member. I hope that Ontario will sign the agreement soon so that Bramptonians and young families, especially mothers, can get the benefit from this on the issue of child care.

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